Monday

Michael’s Monday Word is “cheerful”, Maureen’s Monday Word is “busy”, Angela’s Monday Word is “bright”.  Let’s see how these words express our Monday.

Today was a national holiday in Zambia, we did not have a “regular” Monday.   We slept a little later and awoke cheerfully to our busy day.  After breakfast, Maureen went to meet with the head nurse, and Angela and Michael started across the yard to the children’s ward to play.    A & M didn’t make it inside the building to the playroom because some of the mothers and some of the children were eating breakfast on the sidewalk outside –the weather was cool and sunny.  After a cheerful  greeting, one of the ladies asked what was in the bag.   . 

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I had placed a variety of art supplies inside my bag, because I was not sure what would be enjoyed.  I chose to make purse/backpacks with the ladies.  Thank you Robin & company for putting together these wonderful kits, the ladies were so excited about the bright colors and the activity because it gave them something to do.  Many of the ladies were quite good at sewing and as the day progressed they started redesigning the handles to look more like a regular purse.  This project was a great idea because the mamas could work with their hands and still visit with each other.   When someone received a phone call, the mama said she couldn’t talk because she was “busy” and she liked being “busy”!  The bags came with picture and written directions as well as extra pins and needles.  I think some of the mamas will make more bags on their own, probably even making different variations on the design.  I still have some bags left – not sure how I will use them throughout the week, but they were a big hit!

So while I was sewing bright colored handbags with the mamas, Michael was cheerfully visiting the children’s ward with Joel, if you google Cure Zambia you will see some of Joel’s work as a computer/storyteller dude.    After visiting the wards, Michael played some soccer, ran some errands for me as I ran out of supplies, and helped Maureen put together mannequins –touching something unusual.  One of the staff brought in two chickens for our lunch, and we had a delicious lunch of shimea, chicken, beans and rice – well Michael said he would try the shimea tomorrow, but he enjoyed tasting the chicken and rice.  

After lunch I visited with the ladies, who wanted to make more bags.  I started making suncatchers with the children using wax paper, tissue paper and watery glue.  We decorated them with glitter glue that was a big hit!

Michael made friends with a boy in the ward who couldn’t get out of bed, he took him pencils and paper.  I love watching the children draw.  They like to draw lions, giraffes, elephants just like my students!! We spent the afternoon in the shade, laughing, drawing, gluing, sewing. . . being busy in a creative way – Most of the children smile easily with you, endearing themselves quickly to your heart, but I think it is the ones who struggle to smile that touch me the most, I want to see them smile.  Rose is a little girl like that – pray for Rose.  She did let me decorate her cast with a few flowers. 

The sun goes down quickly here, getting dark by 6:00.  So we packed up our supplies and returned to the guest house.  We had a wonderful dinner with the orthopedic doctor and his wife, Dr. Moyo.  They are from the Congo and he has served with Cure for over 13 years in at least 4 countries.  He is a very well respected doctor, specializing in pediatric orthopedics.  His son David is 10.  David and Michael hit it off easily playing soccer and video games while the adults visited.  Dr. Moyo picked up every one staying in the guest house as well as another young lady for dinner and returned us back after dinner – this is no small sacrifice of time when you see the traffic, hear the horns beeping and  feel the “creative” driving in Lusaka.  Dinner smelled and tasted delicious!  What a sweet visit!